Gordon Ramsay's Vegan Bacon + Improved Recipe (2024)

I’m going to share Gordon Ramsay’s Vegan bacon recipe that was pretty viral online (especially tiktok) and also share my thoughts on various tests I did to make it better. After all, I have the most popular vegan bacon recipe on Google, so I know a thing or two about making good vegan bacon at home.

Over the years, I’ve tried and tested some of Gordon Ramsay’s recipes; vegan recipes and turning his non-vegan recipes into vegan recipes. I’ve had some true ups and downs, from his Mille Feuille to his “Eggplant Steak”. Either way, I was excited to try his vegan bacon recipe. I’ve been making rice paper bacon for years so I wanted to offer readers my expertise with Gordon Ramsay’s original idea and how to make his vegan bacon better, tastier and quicker (his took a long time to make).

Gordon Ramsay’s Vegan Bacon

So I made Gordon Ramsay’s Vegan Bacon and here’s what I didn’t like about it:

His vegan bacon was not crispy at all 🙁

I think the reason it wasn’t crispy was a combination of too much tofu and the marinade – either way, bacon should be crispy and I discovered the perfect way in my recipe below

Many people, including me, said his marinade was VERY spicy

I like spicy, but it was too spicy and also… bacon isn’t supposed to be spicy right?

the marinade was also too thick

This offered a challenge for the rice paper and slowed the process down a lot – I discovered a way to make it easy to dip the rice paper in

Took a long time (compared to my quick & easy 15 mins vegan bacon). Like common Gordon, I don’t have all day to spend in the kitchen 😛

You can check out his recipe below and also check out my improved version of his recipe (check recipe card below) which is less spicy, less time-consuming, and more crispy!

INGREDIENTS FOR GORDON RAMSAY’S VEGAN BACON:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR GORDON RAMSAY’S VEGAN BACON:

Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C) and prepare a baking sheet with a rack and parchment paper. Spray the baking rack with cooking spray and set aside.
Prepare marinade – whisking together sriracha, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, garlic powder, cayenne, smoked paprika, liquid smoke, maple syrup, tamari, melted butter, and water. Season mixture with pepper.
Place pressed tofu in a bowl and using hands crumble tofu into pea-size pieces. Season with remaining nutritional yeast and 3 tablespoons of marinade. Set aside.
Prepare bacon strips, using sharp kitchen shears, cut rice paper into 1½ inch-wide (4 cm) strips. Pour remaining marinade into a shallow baking dish and working with a few “bacon” strips at a time, dip rice paper into the marinade. Flip to coat and once pliable remove and place on prepared baking sheet. Scatter with tofu to resemble the “fat” of the bacon strips. Top with another bacon strip, pressing with your fingers to fuse together into a strip. Re-dip in the marinade as needed. Repeat with remaining strips.
Bake bacon strips in oven for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Gently scrunch strips with your fingers to create curly bacon, continue to bake for another 10-12 minutes or until bacon is crispy and amber brown. Brush strips with more marinade as needed if they start to dry out too much.

You can find the full recipe on his website.

Gordon Ramsay’s Vegan Bacon… But Better

I’m going to show you how to make a better vegan bacon recipe in 15 mins using similar ingredients like rice paper, crumbled tofu and a more simple (and tasty) marinade!

All you need to do to make this recipe is mix together the marinade and add some to crumbled tofu. Then pour marinade into a shallow bowl or dish, then dip the rice paper sheet on one side and lay it on a surface with the marinade up and sprinkle tofu over, then add a second sheet on top and using wet hands, press together. Then slice with a pizza cutter and bake until crispy.

INGREDIENTS FOR GORDON RAMSAY’S BACON BUT BETTER (VEGAN):

Rice Paper (square preferred)
Nutritional Yeast
Garlic Powder
Smoked Paprika
Liquid Smoke
Maple Syrup
Olive Oil or Vegan Butter
Soy Sauce or Tamari
Extra-Firm Tofu
MSG (optional) or Mushroom Seasoning

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT I USED:

What I did differently: I tested and created a totally different marinade that’s similar to my popular rice paper bacon marinade recipe with some changes. I also used less tofu, because it was making it harder to crisp up. I did not bake it on a grill rack like he suggested, instead, I baked it on a baking sheet with a silicone mat. I also prepared the bacon totally differently, so instead of cutting the rice paper and then soaking, topping with tofu and then meeting another strip and adding it on top, I opted for a much quicker version: wet an entire rice paper sheet, added the tofu on top and then topped with another soaked sheet and used a pizza cutter to cut strips. So much easier and quicker!

Full Recipe Down Below

Looking For More Vegan Bacon Recipes?

Vegan Bacon Bits
Rice Paper Bacon
Carrot Bacon

Made this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating & comment below. It truly helps me & I really appreciate any support! Feel free to share your food photos on social and tag me @edgyveg so I don’t miss it!

Share My Recipe on Pinterest

Gordon Ramsay's Vegan Bacon + Improved Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What did Gordon Ramsay say about vegans? ›

He said: "It's a secret that's so big, I'm almost afraid to say it on national television." "After all these years, I can finally admit that I actually love vegan food," he added before saying that it has taken "20 years to get to this point." In recent years, Ramsay showed some understanding of plant-based food.

View Details ›

What is vegan bacon made from? ›

Vegetarian bacon can also be made at home by marinating strips of tempeh or tofu in various flavorings, such as soy sauce or liquid smoke, and then either frying or baking. Aficionados of raw food also use coconut meat as a bacon substitute. Seitan can also be formed into vegetarian bacon.

Read On ›

Is veggie bacon healthy? ›

Vegan bacon could therefore be seen as a better alternative to pig bacon, but that's not to say it's a healthy food product. Plant-based meats are ultra processed foods, and they also tend to be high in salt. They are, however, lower in saturated fat, and don't contain the same preservatives as pig bacon.

Keep Reading ›

Is Gordon Ramsay anti vegan? ›

Ramsay's vocal stance against veganism has sparked controversy and debates, with passionate defenders of plant-based diets challenging his perspective. Critics argue that his dismissive comments do not reflect the creative and diverse range of vegan cuisine available today.

Discover More ›

Does Gordon Ramsay actually like vegan food? ›

Gordon Ramsay is famously averse to vegan food – but it turns out the celebrity chef has been keeping a closely guarded secret for many years. Opening up to competitors on the US Masterchef: Back to Win series, Ramsay admitted that despite his public disdain of vegan food throughout his career, he actually loves it.

Keep Reading ›

Does vegan bacon taste like real bacon? ›

Thanks to that, Tofurky's tempeh bacon has all of the flavors of bacon: savory, smoky, and a little bit sweet and salty.

Learn More Now ›

Is vegan healthier than meat? ›

Vegetarians and vegans typically have lower body mass index, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure than comparable regular meat-eaters, as well as lower bone mineral density.

How long does vegan bacon last? ›

Keep refrigerated below 5°C. Once opened consume within 48 hours. Suitable for freezing. Freeze no later than 2 days before use by date and use within 1 month.

Learn More Now ›

Why do chefs add water to bacon? ›

Why Does Cooking Bacon in Water Work? The addition of water keeps the initial cooking temperature low and gentle, so the meat retains its moisture and stays tender as the fat renders. Plus, since the water helps render the fat, there will be significantly less splatter as your bacon finishes in the pan.

Get More Info Here ›

How do restaurants get bacon so crispy? ›

They cook it the best way possible, on a sheet pan in the oven. The bonus is while it takes longer to make this way, you can make more at once, the pieces are more or less flat and they come out crispy. Or they throw it in the deep fryer once it's done.

Keep Reading ›

Is vegan bacon highly processed? ›

Vegan meat substitutes are often high in salt and highly processed, warns UN. Plant-based alternative meat products are often highly processed and have too much salt, the UN has said while still urging governments to consider providing more support to the industry.

What is the healthiest bacon to eat? ›

Turkey bacon is likely healthier for you than conventional bacon since it's not red meat. Turkey bacon, however, is still processed meat. Stick to small portions, pair it with nutrient-rich foods, and choose nitrate-free versions if you enjoy turkey bacon and want to keep eating it. U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Read On ›

What tastes like bacon but isn't bacon? ›

There are a variety of ways to make vegetarian bacon, but it is often made from ingredients such as soy, tempeh, or mushrooms, which are flavored and processed to mimic the taste and texture of traditional bacon. Some brands may also use pea protein, rice, or wheat gluten to make vegetarian bacon.

Read On ›

Did Gordon Ramsay trick vegetarian? ›

In one of his most controversial stunts, Gordon once tricked a vegetarian into eating meat while filming the second series of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares in 2005.

Has there ever been a vegan on Hells kitchen? ›

In 2021, Ramsay welcomed Josie Clemens to season 20 of Hell's Kitchen, making her the first vegan contestant in the show's 17-year history.

Tell Me More ›

Can you eat vegan at Hells kitchen? ›

We have many menu items that are vegetarian by design, or can be made vegetarian through simple substitutions or omissions. For vegans, we are proud to offer the Impossible Burger, which can easily be made vegan by request.

Get More Info ›

What chef cuts meat in front of vegans? ›

After weeks of vegan activists protesting in front of his nose-to-tail bistro, chef Michael Hunter decided to make a statement by butchering a freshly-killed deer's leg in the window of his Toronto restaurant, Antler Kitchen & Bar, right in front of the demonstrators.